AOC Savennières wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

the appellation covers three villages north of the Loire and south-west of Angers, namely Savennières, Bouchemaine and Possonière, with a total area under vine of 150 hectares. It has been said that the vines here are real sun traps. Louis 11th used to compare Savennières to a drop of gold. Several hillside sites unquestionably boast ideal facings, including the highest site at Epiré, home to Coulée-de-Serrant (a 7-hectare walled vineyard) and La Roche-aux-Moines (25 ha). Such is the quality of these two site-specific vineyards that they enjoy their own appellations: Savennières Coulée de Serrant and Savennières Roche aux Moines. Just like Burgundy, Savennières has walled vineyards: Clos du Papillon, des Perrières, de la Bergerie, de Coulaine, Clos de la Goutte d’Or… The soils are formed of shale and purple sandstone of volcanic origin from the St George series with countless variations. Only Chenin is grown here.

Grape varieties: Vins blancs secs : chenin

The wines of this appellation

Savennières is either a dry or medium dry white wine. It is full, delicate, elegant, rich and robust, which can be austere in the early years though is blessed with a fantastic potential for maturing. The wines display a golden straw-yellow hue and a complex bouquet with floral (acacia) and mineral fragrances, ripe white fruit, honey, flesh, sap, peach, and citrus fruit (apple). As they age, these lead into quince, candied fruit, peat, smoky and above all mineral shades. These sterling wines pair with fish in a sauce (pike, pike-perch, monkfish, salmon) and shellfish, roast white meats, goats cheeses and asparagus.